Wilderness Medicine Race Puts Emergency Skills to the Test

A U-M resident and two fellows put their wilderness emergency medicine training — and fitness —to the test, and won.

1:00 PM

Author | Kylie Urban

2016 Midwest MedWAR Champions from U-M

Joe Betcher, M.D., Al Majkrzak, M.D., and Arun Ganti, M.D., have always enjoyed the great outdoors.

"We all like backpacking, running and just being outdoors in general," Betcher says.

SEE ALSO: 5 Facts About Survival Flight, U-M's Critical Care Air Transport Team

Betcher and Majkrzak are emergency medicine ultrasound fellows at the University of Michigan, and Ganti is a third-year emergency medicine resident. All three enjoyed being lead instructors for the wilderness medicine elective course held every September within the U-M Medical School.

So when the three found out about MedWAR, wilderness medicine races for health care professionals and emergency personnel, they knew it would be right in their wheelhouse.

"We knew that we could work together well, given our prior experience," Betcher says. "This year was mine and Al's third time competing in the race, and Arun's fifth time. We've met and competed against teams from other universities across the Midwest."

MedWAR puts on races across the country that test participants' ability to perform medical challenges while in wilderness settings.

This year's Midwest race, which took place Oct. 8 at Pinckney Recreation Area in Pinckney, Michigan, consisted of around 15 miles of wilderness trail runs and required teams to carry their own gear while encountering frequent medical scenarios that may be seen in the wilderness.

Supplies included rope, tarps, splints and small supplies consisting of over a dozen different medications to treat emergencies in the wilderness. They were even required to carry a fake infant for 13 miles, which they first had to rescue at the beginning of the race. To prepare, Betcher says they've all been running a lot to stay in shape, plus Ganti bikes to work every day.

"We had to treat victims that endured gunshot wounds, bear attacks and snake bites and had to rescue drowning victims," Betcher says. "We had to do a 4-mile canoeing section as well as navigate through the woods in the pitch black of night to find checkpoints, all while carrying all of our own gear."

Teams are judged at each medical challenge, and if the team cannot perform the task, time is added to its overall completion time.

For the U-M group, the third time at Midwest MedWAR turned out to be the charm. The team took home first place in the competition.

"It was exciting," Betcher says. "You win some outdoor and camping supplies, but it was most exciting to be the first U-M team to win."

He explains it's the thrill of the competition that keeps them interested each year.

"Everyone starts out confused trying to read the map you're given, and you have to learn to navigate and get oriented with where you are," he adds. "As soon as the competition starts you have to work together as a team if you want to win."

The team looks to regroup next year and try to win another medal. They have even discussed representing U-M in one of the other seven MedWAR events held in other regions of the country.


More Articles About: lifestyle Urgent Care Wellness and Prevention Emergency & Trauma Care
Health Lab word mark overlaying blue cells
Health Lab

Explore a variety of healthcare news & stories by visiting the Health Lab home page for more articles.

Media Contact Public Relations

Department of Communication at Michigan Medicine

[email protected]

734-764-2220

Stay Informed

Want top health & research news weekly? Sign up for Health Lab’s newsletters today!

Subscribe
Featured News & Stories c.s_mott_childrens_hospital
News Release
$5.4M pediatric emergency services fast track clinic to serve lower acuity cases
University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital plans to build a $5.4 million emergency services fast track clinic to treat children, teens and young adults with lower acuity conditions.
Speculum illustration including a gloved hand holding a swab in front of microscopic cells
Health Lab
U.S. could cut cervical cancer cases, deaths by up to 20% if more patients followed up after screening, study suggests
Many women don’t get cervical cancer screening such as Pap tests, or don’t go for follow up diagnostic tests; a new study shows what could happen if all of them did.
gun with lock on it with key there gun is in black and background yellow and lock is white
Health Lab
Michigan’s new firearm injury prevention laws: What everyone should know
Michigan has a set of new laws related to firearms, all designed to reduce the risk of injury and death across the state.
computer
Health Lab
Same patient. Different visit. Different race and ethnicity?
Data on the race and ethnicity of patients underpins efforts to reduce health care disparities, but a study shows inconsistent recording in emergency departments
Person's hand holding an aspirin tablet with a glass of water nearby
Health Lab
An aspirin a day? Some older adults who take it may be following outdated advice
Many people aged 50 to 80 who said they take aspirin multiple times a week may not need to do so and could be causing health risks, according to National Poll on Healthy Aging.
Pink, blue, purple illustration of COVID-19 virus
Health Lab
Four years later, what do we know about COVID-19?
Today, thanks to researchers, medical and public health experts, pharmaceutical companies, engineers and others, we know more and can do more about the coronavirus called SARS-CoV2, and the disease called COVID-19, than ever before.